Rubbing device



Sept. 14, 1937. H. c. GAMBLE RUBBING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1955 3O INVENTOR '5' Helen C. Gqmbka Y TTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES RUBBING nEvroE- 7 Helen C. Gamble, New York, N. Y. 7 7 Application December 10, 1935, Serial No. 53,693

t 1 Claim.

- The present invention relates to a rubbing de-. vice. More particularly this invention relates to a rubbing device of the nature of a wash board for use in washing clothes or the like, and is especially applicable to small scale laundry operations carried on incidentally in the home.

Primarily, the invention is designed to facilitate minor laundry operations such as the washing of small items of wearing apparel and particularly those of a delicate, fragile nature as for instance silk stockings, handkerchiefs, lace, and the like, by providing. a rubbing device in the nature'of a miniature wash board'which may be conveniently slipped overthe hand of the user and be easily retained thereon during the rubbing process.

Embodiments of my'invention are of a general size substantially commensurate with that of the human hand and include a body structure having an exterior face provided with a wash board surface, and means defining a mitt-like opening into which the user of the-device may insert one of his hands and easily retain said body structure thereon during a laundering process, the said means being devoid of sharp projections or edges which might cause injury to the user or to the articles being laundered.

In its preferred forms, the present invention is shaped from a material capable of retaining its stiffness when immersed in hot water. Advantageously, sheet metal is the material used, and a blank is stamped therefrom to provide, when bent into the finished article, a body having a rubbing face, inclusive of the usual wash board? corrugations or like rubbing formations, and ex tensions therefrom, in the nature of lateral sides, and preferably inclusive of a bottom side, extending from behind the said rubbing face and substantially at right angles thereto, the lateral sides being bent respectively inwardly towards each other along their outermost edges to result in a mitt-like opening into which the user may insert the extended fingers of his hand, the crotch of his thumb fitting over an indenture in the top edge of one of the side extensions, and the end of.

by finger tips as an aid to retention of the device on user's hand during use.

Further features and objects of this invention will be made clear in the following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawing, in which: r e i Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my device, positioned on one hand of a user during a clothes laundering operation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

4 is atop pla'nviewx H 7 Q Referring to the drawing; the device representing the subject of the present inventionis illustrated at In in eachof the figures as a completed article ready for"use,'said article comprising a body structure shaped from a material which retains its stiffness when immersed in hot water. Representative of such materials are sheet metal, molded synthetic resin and the like.

Advantageously, a blank, stamped from sheet metal to the proper contour and with suitable rubbing and holding formations provided, is bent to produce the final device. However, if a synthetic resin or a like material is used, the formation and final shaping of the device may take place in one molding operation.

Irrespective of the method of making same, the body structure of said device includes a substantially plane exterior face as indicated at I I, on the surface of which are rubbing formations preferably in the form of the usual wash-board V corrugations l2, but not necessarily restricted to such configuration.

of said device may easily retain same on one of his hands, the rubbing face of said device lying in parallel coincidence with the plane of a face of his hand when extended fiatwise as shown in 40 Fig. 1.

Such means may comprise lateral extensions 13 and M in the nature of sides extending from the back of said face H andalong substantially its length at the edges thereof and at a con- V In addition thereto,- said 35" 7 body structure includes means whereby the user convenient angle usually obtuse with respect to the sides proper to result in the back portions l5 and I6 respectively; the entire body structure inclusive of the scrubbing face I I, the side extensions l3 and I4 respectively, and the back portions [5 and [6 respectively, combinedly producing a device in the nature of a mitt that may he slipped over a hand, exclusive of the thumb, of the user of same and be retained thereon to provide a wash board surface during the laundering process.

The thumb fits over the top of one of the side extensions, in the present instance the side I4, and engages a holding means positioned in said side. Advantageously an indenture I1 is provided in the top edge of said side for comfortably positioning the crotch of the thumb while the end of the thumb is in engagement with the holding means.

The holding means may take the form of any type of protuberance or indentation, as for instance the illustrated protuberance l8, which permits of engagement thereof by the end of the thumb to prevent possible forward slippage of the device, and which is also adapted to be substantially covered by the thumb during use as a protection against snagging.

Figure 1 illustrates a correct manner of utilizing my device in laundering an apparel 2|.

To aid in holding the device in its proper position during use, one or more of the wash board formations toward thelower end of the rubbing surface ll extends more inwardly, relative to the remaining formations, as indicated at 19 Fig. 2, to provide a hold for the finger tips.

A bottom end flange 20 may be provided at the lower edge of the device as a protection against cutting and/or tearing of delicate fabrics being laundered. Preferably this end flange 20 is formed as an integral part of the lateral extensions I3 and I4 and is a continuation of same around the periphery of the lower portion of the device.

Whereas, I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A rubbing device for hand laundering comprising a body structure having an exterior rubbing face provided with washboard corrugations, and lateral members extending backwardly from said rubbing face, the lateral members having, respectively, their outer edges turned inward toward each other to define a mitt-like opening behind said rubbing face adapted to receive a hand exclusive of the thumb of the user of the device; the said lateral members providing the sole backward extension laterally, adjacent the top of said body structure, the uppermost edge of one of said lateral members being adapted to receive the crotch of the thumb of said hand; a holding formation positioned in the last referred to lateral extension for engagement by the end of said thumb to retain the device in operative position, the said formation being normally covered by the thumb during the use of the device; and an extension of one of the washboard corrugations in wardly of the mitt-like opening, adjacent the lower end of the device for engagement by the finger tips of the hand of the user of the device.

HELEN C. GAMBLE. 

